The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-02-05
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
THE WITHERS- EHRMAN CASE AGAIN.
An Explanation from Mr.. John Grason.
Counsel for Dr. Ehrman.
TowsoNrowN. February LIST. ls7

TowsoNTowN, February LIST, 1877
MEssRs. LoNGNECKER BRos.-Dear Sirs I'm
your issue of January 10th, 1887, there appeared
an article headed Prosecutions Through the Mail
and What Came of Them" and DR.. Ehrman this
A. M. called my attention to the same. At his re-
quest, for he is much annoyed by said article, I,
knowing that you never desire to publish other
than facts, make the following statement:
DR.. Ehrman is, am informed, graduate of
medicine, and he was indicted for libel in having
written postal card to his uncle, Michael P. c.
Withers containing the following language -
"Circumstantial evidence will prove you guilty Of
an attempt, with poison, to murder your only
living sister," 1 was employed to defend DR..
Ehrman. The case was called for trial on Thurs
day last and DR.. Ehrman present with two
witnesses-Mr. Edwin Withers, brother of M. P.
C. Withers, and Miss Charlotte A. Withers, the
"only living sister, referred to. Mr.. Edwin
Withers was very anxious that the case should be
settled without trial and came to me and asked
me "what we would do" I replied, "Nothing."
Mr.. Michael P. c. Withers then came to me and
asked "what we would do" I told him that I
could not talk with him; that all talk must be had
with his counsel, he having employed Majo John
I. Yellott to help the State Mr.. Yelott then
asked me what would do, if we would apologize.
I said yes; that the postal card should not have
been written. He (Mr. Yellott) thea wanted a
statement from DR.. Ehrman that said charge was
untrue but DR.. Ehrman would not make it, but
advised him to state the following: 81 hereby
retract such charge and declare my regret for the
same, having no knowledge of the same," be-
cause the Dr. had personal knowledge of said al
legged attempt to poison, having been told of it by
his aunt, Michael P. G. Withers's "ony living
sister," Miss Charlotte A. Withers, the "only
living sister," was in court to testify for DR.. Ehr
man and ready to relate all the circumstances of
the attempt to poison. l advised DR.. Ehrman to
sign said paper and have the case settled rather
than have the horrible details of said circum-
stances rehearsed in court by the "only living
sister" of Michael P. G. Withers An additional
reason for said settlement was that Miss Charlotte
A. Withers while in the court, was exceedingly
nervous and expressed the fear that her said
brother, Michael p. c. Withers, would shoot her if
she testified against him. Your publications. the
first notification 1 have had that any 'foiscone
language" was written by DIR. Ehrman to any one.
You will see that the offers of settlement did not
come from Dr. Etrman, and 1 will stat. that
Michael P. G Withers knew his "only living
sister," Charlotte A. Withers, was in coun pre-
pared to testify as to the truth of the statement
made on that postal card, in justification thereof.
Michael P. G. Withers came from B,ngor,
Maine, for the express purpose of prosecuting DR..
Ehrman for libel; was here about three weeks,
neglectng his business and employed counsel to
assist the States officer then proposed the Iettle-
ment under the above circumstances, and pub
fishes the card proof of his justification, but
withholds the circumstances under which was
signed Very respectfully, JOHN GRAsoN.